search google for it. Basically the samplerInfo node just returns information about the point being shaded in relation to the camera /world etc. So what you friend probably used it for is to grab the facing ratio (which is how much of an angle the normal of the point is away from the viewing vector) to control spec and reflections.
Look at the docs as well those should help
Alan
Technical Director - Framestore
Currently working on: Your Highness
IMDB